Ben Affleck criticizes California for taking Hollywood ‘for granted’ as film and TV productions flee the state
Turns out, you can leave the Hotel California.
Ben Affleck has criticized California for not doing more to keep Hollywood the “center” of the TV and film industry, which is increasingly drawn to other states and countries offering better tax incentives.
“I think part of the problem with California is they came to take this industry for granted a little bit,” Affleck, 52, told the Associated Press on the red carpet for the premiere of his movie “The Accountant 2” on Thursday.
The “Batman v. Superman” star pointed out that places such as Georgia, New Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts and New Jersey have offered “tax rebate deals” and other incentives to lure productions “because they understand how stimulative it is for their economies.”
Affleck did praise California Governor Gavin Newsom for his proposal to double the state’s film and TV tax credits, though the plan has yet to be voted on by lawmakers who are divided over its fiscal feasibility.
Even if the expansion were enacted, Affleck doesn’t think the tax credits would be enough to make the Golden State competitive with its rivals.
“The percentage you get back in terms of actual budget doesn’t compete with places like England, which is why you see a lot of these big, huge movies shoot in the U.K.,” the Oscar-winner explained.
The exodus of film and TV projects from California and Los Angeles — which he said “used to be at the center” of the industry — has meant that film and TV crews are also jumping ship.
“It’s really the technicians and the crew that make or break your movie,” he shared.
“You need the best people, you need good people. I, as a director, know that to be true. And so if people move away, you know, that really hurts the industry.”
Affleck isn’t the only celebrity sounding the alarm bell on this issue.
Last month, Rob Lowe blasted LA and California leaders for not doing more to keep the entertainment industry from fleeing the state.
“It’s criminal what California and LA have let happen — it’s criminal,” Lowe said on his “Literally!” podcast. “Everybody should be fired,” Lowe added, noting that his game show “The Floor” films in Ireland because, “It’s cheaper to bring in 100 people to Ireland than to walk across the lot at Fox.”
In February, Dennis Quaid opened up to The Post about Texas’ starry ambitions, saying, “We really want to be the new Hollywood, and also bring back crew people that have to leave to go work in Oklahoma or Georgia or Mexico. People are there.”
He added, “It’s just really providing the infrastructure and the means to do this to compete.”
